Break out of the norm and explore more of Thailand in this three week Family Thailand Adventure. Go beyond just Bangkok – by staying in a floating hotel on the River Kwai. Go beyond Chiang Mai, by exploring remote villages in Northern Thailand. And go beyond the normal beach relaxation, by zip-lining through the jungle in Khao Sok National Park! This adventure is perfect for the family that is active and ready to get off the beaten path.
Day 1 Bangkok – Arrival
Arrive in Bangkok where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Meals Included: None
Overnight at Centre Point, Silom Hotel – 2Bedroom Apartment
Day 2 Bangkok – Public Transport Tour with Klong trip
You will be met by your guide at your hotel at 9am and set off on the Skytrain. Enjoy the elevated view of central Bangkok as you speed across town to the river where you will board a river express boat to the Flower Market. Take in the sights and smells as you wander past stalls piled with flowers and then head off on an exciting tuk tuk ride to Wat Pho to see the famous Reclining Buddha. Enjoy a thirty minute massage at the temple’s traditional Thai massage school followed by lunch at a local restaurant, and then head to the pride of Thailand, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew housing the Emerald Buddha. Take a stroll down the street to a local Buddhist amulet market before heading off along the klongs (canals) finally boarding a river express boat to the Skytrain station and returning to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Centre Point, Silom Hotel – 2Bedroom Apartment
Day 3 Bangkok – Floating Market with Bike Ride
Seventy kilometers south-west of Bangkok the Mae Klong River spreads into a sprawling delta before reaching the Gulf of Thailand. This low-lying land is extremely fertile and over hundreds of years the Thai people have constructed an extensive network of canals to aid irrigation and navigation. The local way-of life has remained traditional, agricultural and revolves around the colourful floating markets where the fruits of the surrounding orchards are traded. Starting in Bangkok we drive south to start our bicycle exploration of the Mae Klong Delta area at Damnoen Nam Saduak floating market, the biggest and most colourful in Thailand and a must for any visitor. Purchase just about anything from the vast array of “shops” on the river. After discovering the sights and sounds of the floating market, we embark on along tail boat and cruise through a maze of canals cutting through local villages and various plantations. This eye-opening boat ride offers a glimpse of Thailand of old where local people are going about their daily life with the canal as the focal point. We start our ride from a temple on the Mae Klong River and head to Wat Amphwan Chetiyaram, a temple believed to be the birthplace of King Phra Phuttha Lertla, Rama II. The temple has been renovated by King Rama III, IV, and V and boasts antiques of the early Rattanakosin period. Our ride takes us further into coconut plantations and fruit orchards along quiet back roads. We stop to visit interesting temples such as the quirky Wat Bang Kung, held up by a huge banyan tree and the exceptional carved panels of Wat Bang Kae Noi. After lunch at a riverside restaurant we continue cycling on picturesque trails towards the floating market. After some refreshments, explore a temple complex and a local market before starting our journey back to Bangkok to beat rush hour. This 32 km trip is suitable for levels of riders and is an excellent trip for families.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Centre Point, Silom Hotel – 2Bedroom Apartment
Day 4 Bridge on the River Kwai
You will be met at your hotel at 06:30am taken by minibus to Kanchanaburi. Enjoy the views along the way before arriving in the late morning at the Bridge Over the River Kwai. Take a look at the Railway Museum and learn more about the importance of the Thai-Burmese Railway commonly referred to as the “Death Railway” during the Second World War. Board a train and cross the bridge on the way to Nam Tok Station, the present-day terminal station for the Death Railway. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then board a boat headed up river to the River Kwai Jungle Rafts with stunning views along the way. After dropping of your bags, take a one hour elephant ride through the bamboo forests. Return to the rafts for a relaxing dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at River Kwai Jungle Rafts
Day 5 Bamboo Rafting and Hellfire Pass
After breakfast take a lazy bamboo raft trip down the river where you may see water buffalo or elephants bathing along the banks. You will be met by an air-conditioned van and transferred to the Hellfire Pass Memorial.Look through the powerful displays at your own pace before hiking down to the Konyu Cutting – the infamous Hellfire Pass. Time is yours to trek as far as you choose along the 3.5 km trail through incredible scenery, passing through cut-away stone passes and over trestle bridges built by POW’s and forced labor during the Second World War. Afterwards stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing back to the Jungle Rafts. The afternoon is free to relax with a book or enjoy a traditional Mon/Thai massage right on the river. In the evening, enjoy dinner before watching a Traditional Mon Dance performance.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at River Kwai Jungle Rafts
Day 6 Kanchanaburi – Bangkok
Say goodbye to the Jungle Rafts and head back to Kanchanaburi to visit the Chung Kai Allied War Cemetery, the well-kept memorial for World War II POWs. Continue on to Wat Tham Khao Pun, a cave temple that was used by the Japanese soldiers to store weapons and equipment during WWII. Return to Kanchanaburi for lunch at a restaurant of your choice. After lunch visit the JEATH Museum, a moving site dedicated to the trauma and hardships that Allied POWs suffered. In the afternoon transfer to Bangkok in a private air-conditioned van.
In the evening you will be met by our Bangkok director, Jeab, and she will take you to Silom Road and her favorite local restaurant for dinner. The main dish is papaya salad, but she will suggest many different dishes for you to try. After dinner head back to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Centre Point, Silom Hotel – 2Bedroom Apartment
Day 7 Chiang Mai – Doi Suthep
You will be transferred to Bangkok Airport for your flight – (flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai included). You will be met at Chiang Mai Airport and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon visit Doi Suthep, the most important Wat in Chiang Mai. Perched high above the city, it offers wonderful views of the city and countryside below.
Tonight attend a traditional Khantoke Show dinner and dance.
Meals included Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at De Naga Chiang Mai Hotel – 1Double Premier Deluxe Room
Overnight at De Naga Chiang Mai Hotel – 1Twin Deluxe Room
Day 8 Chiang Mai – Morning Alms to Monks and Doi Inthanon National Park
Wake up early and your guide will escort you into Chiang Mai. Taking a rickshaw ride visit the Tapae and Chiang Mai Gates en route to the market where you will participate in the traditional Buddhist food offering to monks. Enjoy watching the Chiang Mai people going about their daily lives. Stop at Wat Srisoda to see the local monks in Morning Prayer before returning to your hotel in time for breakfast.
After breakfast set off for Doi Inthanon National Park where you will reach the summit of the highest mountain in Thailand. Enjoy beautiful scenery on the way and stop to visit a Karen Village before reaching the peak of the mountain, 8,514 feet above sea level. Take a walk out into the jungle and look for bird life before returning back down, stopping at a picturesque waterfall on the way. You will have lunch on the mountain and on the way back you can stop at Baan Ta-Wai, where they make wooden carvings, pottery and imitation antiques. Return to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at De Naga Chiang Mai Hotel – 1Double Premier Deluxe Room
Overnight at De Naga Chiang Mai Hotel – 1Twin Deluxe Room
Day 9 Chiang Mai – Mae Hong Son
Transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for your onward flight – (flight from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son included). Upon arrival at Mae Hong Son stop for lunch at a local restaurant; after lunch visit the beautiful Burmese style temples at Wat Jongcome, Wat Jongklang, Wat Phrathad Doi Kong Moo and Wat Hao Wieng.
After checking into the delightful, eco-friendly Fern Resort choose to have dinner right there overlooking the rice paddies or arrange with your guide to go back into town where you can eat at a restaurant of your choice.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Fern Resort – 1Double with 2extra beds Suite Room
Day 10 Mae Hong Son – The Pai River
This morning will start with an exciting boat trip on the Pai River to visit the mysterious Padong Long-Neck Tribe at Baan Nam Peing Din. Enjoy a walk around their village as you learn about their history and their culture from your guide. Return by boat to Mae Hong Son.for lunch at a local restaurant, before returning to Fern Resort where you will have the afternoon free to relax, swim in their pool or go for a walk in the surrounding forests.
Enjoy dinner on the Ricefield Terrace at your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Fern Resort – 1Double with 2extra beds Suite Room
Day 11 Mae Hong Son – Pai
Wake up early to see and participate in the giving of alms to local monks. Return to the resort for breakfast. After breakfast visit the unique fish caves and continue to the huge cave complex of Tham Lod (Lod Cave). View the pre-historic cave with its impressive stalagmites and stalactites, before continuing on to Pai. Have lunch at a local restaurant. Arrive in Pai and check into your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Belle Villa Resort Pai – 1Double with 2extra beds Deluxe Cottage Room
Day 12 Thaton – Chiang Dao Elephant Camp
Enjoy today’s scenic route as you pass through Thailand’s beautiful northern mountains and valleys. You will stop for lunch along the way in Mae Teang District and then continue to Chiang Dao Elephant Camp. Here you will take an elephant ride through the jungle before taking a bamboo raft, slowly winding your way down the river. Continue your drive to Thaton where you will check into the Mae Kok River Village Resort.
Meals included Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Mae Kok River Village – Family Room
Day 13 Chiang Mai – Visiting Hill Tribes
Depart from the resort and take a one hour boat ride on the Kok River to Baan Mai, visiting hill tribe villages along the way. Your van will meet you and you can continue on to visit the Yao and Akha Hill Tribe villages. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on your way to Chiang Rai where you will check into the Rimkok Resort.
Meals included Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort – 1Double Deluxe with 2extra beds River View Room
Day 14 Chiang Rai – The Golden Triangle with rickshaw ride in Burm
Your guide will meet you in the morning and take you to visit the Mae Sae Border where you can cross over into Burma and take a rickshaw ride through the local village, visiting the local market. Return to Thailand for lunch and in the afternoon visit the famous Golden Triangle where you can see Burma, Thailand and Laos all come together. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort – 1Double Deluxe with 2extra beds River View Room
Day 15 Phuket – Arrival
Transfer from your hotel to Chiang Rai Airport for your onward flight – (flight from Chiang Rai to Bangkok included)
Catch your connecting flight – (flight from Bangkok to Phuket included).
You will be met at Phuket Airport and transferred to your hotel. Once you have checked in relax and enjoy your resort. There are restauraunts in the hotel and in the surrounding area, pools to enjoy and of course the beach!
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Kata Beach Resort – 1Double and 1Twin Superior Room
Day 16 Phuket – Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Kata Beach Resort – 1Double and 1Twin Superior Room
Day 17 Phuket – Khao Sok Discovery Day Tour
Get anGet an early start on the day with a 7am pickup from your hotel for a fun-filled day of adventure. Drive with your group 200 km (120 miles) north to Khao Sok National Park, said to be the Guilin of Thailand because of its stunning scenery and high limestone peaks. Enjoy the plentiful flora and fauna during a 2 hour elephant ride through the jungle. Break for lunch before boarding a canoe for a relaxing 2 hour float down the Sok River, watching the scenery and nature pass by. If you’d like, you can try out the Flying Fox Zipline for a thrill before being driven back to your hotel in Phuket.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Kata Beach Resort – 1Double and 1Twin Superior Room
Day 18 Phuket – Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included Breakfast
Overnight at Kata Beach Resort – 1Double and 1Twin Superior Room
Day 19 Phuket – Day at Leisure
Have a free day to explore on your own.
Meals included Breakfast
Overnight at Kata Beach Resort – 1Double and 1Twin Superior Room
Day 20 Phuket – Departure
Transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight -(flight from Phuket to Bangkok included)
Meals included: Breakfast